Gloria T. (Leger) Hiltunen, 90 of Salem, passed away peacefully at the Kaplan Family Hospice House on Wednesday, February 28, 2018, with her family by her side. She was the devoted wife of the late Robert A. Hiltunen with whom she had shared 66 years of marriage.Born and raised in Salem, she was the daughter of the late Rene Z. and Marie D. (Theriault) Leger. A graduate of St. Joseph Academy, she began working, at a young age, a medical technician for the Parkhurst Laboratory of Beverly. Following her marriage to Bob in 1948, she devoted her love and energy to raising her young family. Gloria later returned to the medical field at Parkhurst and for Salem Hospital. Shortly after her retirement she worked part time for Harbor Sweets of Salem.Gloria was a voracious reader and avid knitter. She knitted for her family, extended family and many charitable events.She is survived by her six children, Denise M. Walsh and her husband Richard of Pocasset, Scott Hiltunen and his wife Valerie, “Rick” Hiltunen and his wife Chris all of Salem, Peter L Hiltunen and his wife Deb of Glen Allen, VA, Eric S. Hiltunen and his wife Janet of New Canaan, NH, Kari R. Reifel and her husband Harry of Boxford. She also leaves 18 grandchildren including her Sweetie Pie Jocelyn Norris of Peabody, many great-grandchildren and her beloved sister-in-law, Elaine Hiltunen of Peabody.
Relatives and friends are invited to her calling hours on Monday, March 5, 2018 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at the Levesque Funeral Home, 163 Lafayette St. [Route 114 / 1-A] Salem. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, March 5th at 11:00 AM in St. Mary of the Annunciation Church, 24 Conant St., Danvers. A committal service will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923. For guestbook and additional information, please visit, www.LevesqueFunerals.com